IMPORTERS’ FEDERATION

Evening Star, Issue 22816, 26 November 1937, Page 16

IMPORTERS’ FEDERATION

YEAR'S WORK REVIEWED The annual report of the New Zealand Importers’ Federation for the year ended September 30 states, inter alia: — Importers are experiencing considerable trouble in clearing goods at the Customs, through the neglect or carelessness of shippers when filling in details required in certificates supplied with invoices. Action has been taken by the federation, through the Australian and New Zealand Merchants and Shippers Association, drawing attention to the necessity for shippers to see that certificates comply strictly with instructions. The federation took up with the Comptroller of Customs the increasing demands for statistical requirements with the consequent extra expense and trouble devolving on importers. The Comptroller went into our case carefully, and a useful purpose has been served in placing the views of importers through a representative organisation. The Comptroller at our request kindly arranged the postponement of the date of the Cus-

toms Regulations, 1936, until such time as importers had been able to advise overseas suppliers of their application. The policy of the federation has always been one of vigilant but silent service rather than of aggres-. sive action, and accordingly it has issued statements through the press only at such times when it was considered a definite necessity existed for ventilation of any action. Such was the case when we replied fully and conclusively to various statements issued by the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation—doing so in justice to importers and consumers. There is no need for further comment except to say that we fulfilled our object of stating a complete and fair case, and at the same time emphasising our desire to cooperate with New Zealand industries—but we cannot agree that a policy of excessive protection is in the best interests of those industries themselves, or of New Zealand. The federation will do all in its power to ensure that the just claims of importers receive consideration in any action which is contemplated. Customs duties, once imposed, no matter how temporary they are alleged to be, are amongst the most difficult things to remove; the possibility of some form of control of imports by licence, apart altogether from tariffs, cannot be ignored. The affiliated associations have given us every support and have been most active in the interests of their members. We desire to emphasise most forcibly that in their own interests members should do all possible to strengthen and support their representative organisations.